A 262-foot yacht isn’t considered that big by today’s standards, yet when Aalto (meaning “wave” in Finnish) delivered in 2007, it was the first of Oceanco’s 700-coded superyachts and marked a new era for the Dutch yard transitioning into the gigayacht-plus sector. In the 17 years since Aalto splashed, Oceanco has seen even bigger behemoths leave its facilities, including Mark Zuckerberg’s 387-foot yacht Launchpad, which delivered in March.
For Aalto’s owner, the Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, his vessel was less about size and more about the features rarely found aboard yachts at that time, from a heated swimming pool and massage room to a helipad and a cantilevered billiards table.
Aalto’s exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard is complemented by a chic interior by the late Alberto Pinto, who made his name in the yachting world by designing the interior of La Créole, owned by the Gucci family.
Pinto’s signature use of ocean-inspired colors, including blue, turquoise and coral, is evident across Aalto’s guest areas, with coral motifs on the backs of the velvet turquoise dining chairs. The interior has enjoyed a refresh since the yacht’s launch, including new carpets and reupholstered soft furnishings, but the design and layout remain unchanged.
Here are 10 things you didn’t know about this Pinto classic, available for charter via Edmiston.
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Outsized On The Ocean
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts The 262-footer has a whopping interior volume of 2,310 gross tons and accommodates 18 guests (12 on charter) and 24 crew. This steel-hulled boat is not steel magnate Mittal’s biggest vessel. He also owns the 364-foot Lürssen-built Alaiya (ex-TIS). The combined annual running costs of his two yachts come to approximately $40 million.
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Making a Splash
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts A glass-backed contra-flow pool, surrounded by sun pads, defines the sun deck. It’s twinned with a large sofa amidships, ideal as a morning coffee nook or early evening soiree.
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Larger Than Life
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts It’s not surprising that a high-flying businessman should mandate a more than generous owner’s suite. What isn’t expected is the size of the shared bathroom—one of the largest in its class—with a giant central jacuzzi bathtub. Aalto’s master takes up almost half of the upper deck, comprising its own office and a walk-in closet with a vanity table. The other eight guest cabins include four VIPs (one on the bridge deck with a private terrace), two doubles and two twins.
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Three is Better Than One
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts Not content with the jacuzzi bathtub, Mittal’s forward-facing master suite leads onto a private Portuguese deck with two hot tubs. They’re well-placed for quiet soaks or catching the best views when cruising along the coast.
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Piano Man
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts While socializing in the sky lounge, guests enjoy live music thanks to the yacht’s Steinway grand piano. The space is connected to an indoor/outdoor dining area slightly reminiscent of King Arthur’s round table, large enough to seat 18 guests, with access to the aft deck.
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Planet Fitness
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts Workouts in the light and airy main-deck gym are a highlight, with a cooling sea breeze when the sliding glass doors are open. The gym is equipped with a treadmill and elliptical machine, as well as fixed and free weights.
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Double Vision
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts The upper deck’s large al fresco dining area has outdoor lounges for enjoying the sunlight. At night, this area transforms into an outdoor cinema for movie magic. A second indoor cinema is found in the main salon (above), with a choice of matching lounge areas to port and starboard. Cream textured carpets and beige upholstery with signature Pinto detailing are twinned with dark wood loose furniture and cabinetry. Light and airy by day, it quickly converts into a movie theater when the fabric blinds are pulled down to conceal the bank of windows.
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Massage and Medics
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts Relaxation in the wellness spa and pampering in the beauty salon are available night and day. Should any of the guests get sick, the space transforms into a medical room, where guests are kept comfortable before accessing onshore emergency care.
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The Side Door
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts Most yachts are boarded from the stern, but Aalto’s side access allows guests to step into the heart of the yacht directly from the tender. The setup leaves the beach club at the stern free for swimming and watersports.
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Toy Story
Image Credit: Edmiston Yachts When it comes to toys, Aalto doesn’t play around. Or maybe it does. The yacht’s onboard gear includes a Manta hydrofoil bicycle, an inflatable slide from main deck, inflatable golf target with biodegradable golf balls, a 10.6-foot-long inflatable sailboat and a submarine drone to take footage of all the underwater sporting antics.
